Stari Grad

From CruisersWiki

The town and harbour of Stari Grad lie at the head of a four mile long gulf carved into the NW coast of Hvar Island in Croatia. The oldest town in Croatia, the settlement is though to have been founded by Greeks under the name of Faros in 385 BC. The town was the capital of the island until Hvar Town assumed that role in 1278. The setting is picturesque, with numerous narrow alleys and squares overlooked by fine old stone houses, of which one, that of the famed 16th century Croatian poet, Petar Hektorovic, is now the town’s leading tourist attraction. The harbour offers very good berthing options for visiting yachts, with around 75 berths distributed between its S quay and a row of mooring buoys off its shallow N quay. Shelter is excellent in all conditions except strong W and NW winds, which create a dangerous surge in the harbour. The harbour can also be subject to a phenomenon called 'plima' in Croatian, a seiche which causes rapid fall and rise of water levels by as much as 1.0 metre. This is most likely in very strong S winds and with low barometric pressures. Fortunately this is a relatively rare occurrence (although the last such event was as recent as November 2012).

Local Weather

Diurnal winds among the islands are mostly moderate during the summer months, predominantly from NW and rarely exceeding force 4/5, although gusting is common in narrow channels between islands and on the lee side of headlands. At night, katabatic winds off the mountains affect some of the islands close to the mainland coast. During early spring and (especially) autumn conditions can be more unsettled, occasionally accompanied by violent thunderstorms - luckily of short duration - with winds of 30-35 knots or more and vicious, steep seas. In the winter the sudden, violent N wind off the mountains, the bora, is much to be feared, especially along the coast from Rijeka down to Zadar, although its effects can be felt as far south as Split.

Equally prevalent in winter - although not uncommon in summer - is the scirocco, a S/SE wind that blows up from North Africa, usually in advance of a depression moving E across the Mediterranean. Unlike the bora, the scirocco only occasionally exceeds gale force, but is still a phenomenon to be wary of, especially if on a lee coast.

For sources of weather forecasting, see Croatia.

Charts

British Admiralty

2712

269

Croatian charts

MK19

Imray

M26 (Split to Dubrovnik)

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Approach and Navigation

There are no dangers in the immediate approach to Stari Grad. There is a green buoy at the entrance to the harbour marking a rocky reef. Depths in the entrance are 13.0 metres, on the town quay between 4.0 and 5.0 metres. Depths on the mooring buoys are 3.0 - 4.0 metres.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Stari Grad is a summer port of entry only. At other times of year, Split or Korcula are the nearest year-round ports of entry.

Berthing options

There are four main berthing options:

1. Town quay

   The town quay on the S side of the inlet (past the short jetty where hotel boats berth) has been developed for visiting yachts and, with the recent extension of the new quay, now has around 60 mooring lines in depths ranging from 2.0 metres at the far E end to 5.0 metres at the W end near the jetty. There are water and electricity points all along the quay. Charges here are HRK 36 per metre. Shelter here is good in all but strong W or NW winds.

2. Mooring buoys

   A row of 16 mooring buoys has been laid parallel to the N side of the harbour, some 50 metres off the shore (depths at the shore are currently too shallow for yachts). Visiting yachts can pick up one of these in depths of 3.0 - 4.0 metres. Charges here are HRK 21 per metre. Shelter here is good in all but strong W or NW winds.

3. Western jetty

   There is a short jetty at the W end of the town quay, where it is possible for a couple of yachts to lie alongside temporarily (or out of season) in depths of 4.0 - 5.0 metres. During the season this jetty is heavily used by hotel and tripper boats. There is a water and electricity point nearby on the quay.

4. Ferry jetty

   It is possible for short periods to tie up alongside at the E end of the ferry quay half a mile SW of the harbour entrance. This position is the only lowered section of the quay and it has the legend 'Taxi' painted on it in blue lettering, so it is wise not to linger too long.

Depths here are around 3.0 metres, but shoal to less than 2.0 metres at the inner end. A hundred metres S of the quay, across the main road, is a large Tommy hypermarket and shopping complex big enough to stock up for a month’s cruising.

Plans are under way to develop the N side of the inlet, where the mooring buoys are currently, to eventually provide a further 60 berths, turning the entire inlet into a virtual marina. It is not known when this is likely to start.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

There area number of good anchorages in the approach to Stari Grad. See Hvar Island page for details or, for a zoomable summary map, click on: Map of marina, harbours and anchorages on Hvar Island.

Yacht Repairs and Services

Only very basic repairs. No toilets or showers on the yacht quay.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

No fuel berth. Water and electricity all along the S quay.

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The old town of Stari Grad is a maze of narrow alleys and tiny squares, ringed with the stone houses typical of the Dalmatian islands. Among its most prized exhibits is the fortified house of the famous 16th century Croatian poet, Petar Hektorovic, with a central courtyard containing a fish pond and beautiful gardens. Another highlight of a visit to Stari Grad is the 15th century Dominican monastery, fortified with a tower following a Turkish raid in 1571, which contains a museum with a painting of The Interment of Christ attributed to Tintoretto plus the oldest inscriptions unearthed in Croatia (in Greek) and a church with several fine altars.

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Large Tommy supermarket at head of inlet
• Even larger Studenac supermarket 200 metres inland plus several provisions shops in the town.
• Butchers and bakers.
• Fruit and vegetable market behind tourist information office.
• Fish market
• Tommy hypermarket and retail complex half a mile W of yacht quay. This is also a good place for kitchen and tableware, adults and children's clothes, footwear and even some electronics and computer items (upstairs).

Eateries

Numerous restaurants and café/bars ashore.

Internet/WiFi

In several cafés along the waterfront.

Laundry

In the town N of the harbour.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Car, scooter and cycle rental outlets in the town.

Garbage Disposal

Bins around the quays.

Transport

• Daily ferries to Split.
• Seasonal ferries to Dubrovnik.
• Seasonal ferries to Ancona, Pescara and Giulianova in Italy.
• Local buses to Hvar Town and other island destinations.

Routes/Passages To/From

See Croatia.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

• Croatia Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum

External Links

• Stari Grad at the Wikipedia
• Stari Grad Tourism website
• Hvar Tourism website

Also see Croatia.

References & Publications

See Croatia.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• September 2014 --Athene of Lymington

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington